The Mobile Child Justice Team (MCJT) at Global Rights Compliance (GRC), in partnership with MANAS, delivered a series of three online webinars aimed at strengthening the capacity of the Victim and Witness Coordination Center (VCC) of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine.
Held between August and November 2025, the series addressed three critical topics identified in close collaboration with the VCC: suicidality and self-harm in children and adolescents, bullying, and children with disabilities. The purpose of these trainings was to build the knowledge and practical skills of VCC staff who work directly with children affected by atrocity crimes, while promoting a child-centred and trauma-informed approach to justice.
MANAS facilitators used their extensive clinical experience in conflict zones to shape the webinars specifically for VCC professionals, meeting the needs of those working with young people in Ukraine. Each session combined theoretical and practical components, offering participants opportunities to engage through interactive exercises, breakout sessions, and case studies reflecting the Ukrainian context. Among the key techniques and tools introduced were the “communication passport,” a personalised tool particularly effective with children who can find typical communication challenging, that makes their voice accessible to the justice professionals by detailing their strengths, preferences, and trigger points, and a “safety plan,” which is a personalised guide to supporting a child in crisis. Another tool was the “Circle of Support,” a framework designed to help children recognise the trusted people around them and strengthen their sense of safety and belonging.
The webinars incorporated group discussions and reflective exercises, encouraging participants to share their own experiences and to explore how these tools can be integrated into their daily professional practice. The virtual format allowed GRC and MANAS to reach over fifty VCC professionals from Kyiv and regional offices across Ukraine, including Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Chernihiv. The sessions were highly interactive and designed to support practical learning, with facilitators moving between breakout rooms to provide feedback and guidance.
“As the Victim and Witness Coordination Center (VCC) of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine continues to expand its reach across Ukraine, the demand for specialised trainings that empower professionals on the front lines is greater than ever. GRC is proud to connect VCC teams with experts such as MANAS, ensuring they are equipped with the latest child-centred, trauma-informed and healing-centred approaches to support children affected by atrocity crimes. We are honoured to be part of VCC’s ongoing journey of learning and growth.” – Danielle DerOhannesian, Legal Adviser, GRC
“Our collaboration with the Office of the Prosecutor General and GRC is vital for building a child-friendly justice system. We felt very honoured to have the opportunity to hear about the crucial work our VCC colleagues are undertaking in an incredibly challenging environment and about their dedication to preserving the dignity and contributing to the healing journey of vulnerable children and their families. The success of our trauma-informed webinars has been instrumental in consolidating local capacity to support victims in engaging safely with accountability mechanisms. The VCC staff’s inspiring commitment assures us these enhanced practices are making a tangible difference in the lives of children affected by the conflict, ensuring their voices are heard with the care they deserve.” – Dr Émilie Medeiros, MANAS Founder and Director
The webinar series represents an important step in GRC’s and MANAS’s ongoing efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s justice institutions by equipping professionals with the tools and knowledge to provide child-centred, trauma-informed support to victims and witnesses of international crimes.
GRC’s Mobile Justice Teams (MJTs), including the MCJT, are part of the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group for Ukraine (ACA). The ACA is a multilateral initiative established by the United Kingdom, the European Union, and the United States to support and assist Ukrainian law enforcement authorities in investigating and prosecuting atrocity crimes in the context of Russia’s full-scale invasion.